How Blest Thy First Disciples, Lord

Above:  All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, May 8, 2016

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1890) by Theodore Claudius Pease (1853-1893)

Source #1 = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States

Source #2 = The Christian Ministry:  Its Present Claim and Attraction and Other Writings (1894)

The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904) contains five of the seven stanzas; The Christian Ministry (1894) offers the complete text.

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How blest Thy first disciples, Lord,

Whom Thou didst choose to walk with thee,

Who daily met around Thy board,

And made Thy home and family!

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How blest, when throng and press were gone,

And weary day herself had fled,

From all the noisy world withdrawn,

Alone with Thee to break the bread!

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Has the long day its burden brought?

Are heavy hearts in sorrow bound?

What sweet relief in kindly thought;

What sympathy with Thee is found!

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For every care Thou hast an ear;

Thou knowest all their changing moods:

What stirs the timid Philip’s fears,–

Why thoughtful Thomas sadly broods.

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Ah, who would such a meeting miss?

What strength is here to nerve the will!

How fair a home for hearts is this!

Who would not long to find it still?

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And is the vision vain as sweet?

Nay, Lord, Thy table still is spread;

And ever where disciples meet,

Thy blessed hands still break the bread.

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We see Thee not; yet when we turn,

These moments melt in memory,

And all our hearts within us burn,

For we have met and talked with Thee.